Tape dispensing container having a sealable dispensing opening



A. G. RICE June 22, 1965 TAPE DISPENSING CONTAINER HAVING A SEALABLE DISPENSING OPENING Filed June 29, 1964 United States Patent Ofiice 3,l9,5l7 Patented June 22, 1965 3,196,517 TAPE DISPENSING CGNTAINER HAVING A EEALAELE DEFENSING GPENING Arthur Graham Rice, East Brighton, Victoria, Australia, assignor to EX. Plastics (Australia) lPty. Limited Filed June 29, 1964, Ser. No. 378,564

Claims priority, application Australia, June 28, 1963,

32,463/63 4 Claims. (Cl. 225-4d) This invention relates to an improved container and dispenser and, more particularly, to a container and dispenser for rolls of tape material.

The invention is particularly applicable to a container and dispenser for rolls of pressure sensitive tape, such as cellulose tape, which is normally packaged in moisture-proof packaging as it tends to be moisture sensitive and which, when used, normally is transferred to a dispenser of one or another type. The principal object of the present invention is to provide a container and dispenser for tape materials, which container is such that on being in its closed position it is substantially moisture proof and when in its open position may be used as a dispenser. V

The invention includes a container and dispenser for tape materials having a top portion and a bottom portion each of which have a base and a skirt, the skirt of the bottom portion being, at least partially, of smaller diameter than the skirt of the top portion to enable the portions to be assembled and to thereof provide a cylindrical container, a slot or aperture being provided in the skiit of each portion, the slots, when in register, permitting tape material .to be dispensed from the container and when out of register the container is closed.

Each of the slots may be positioned adjacent to a portion of a dispensing nozzle which may guide the tape material and may be provided with a serrated forward edge to aid cutting lengths of the tape material.

The means adapted to close the slots when they are out of alignment may comprise an inwardly directed extension at predetermined positions on the top and the bottom so that when the members are rotated through a predetermined angular displacement, each of these inwardly directed members will cover the slot in the other portion of the container.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practice reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the container and dispenser in its dispensing condition;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing container in its closed condition;

FIGURE 3 is an underneath perspective view of the top of the container;

FIGURE 4 is a top perspective view of the bottom of the container;

slightly smaller than that of the skirt 6 of the top. The outer part 3 of the skirt 7 has an external diameter equal to the internal diameter of the skirt 6. In this way, the two portions can be placed together in such a way that the wall of the cylinder joining each end is relatively smooth, thus presenting a good appearance as can well be seen from FIGURES 1 and 2.

Both the top 2 and bottom 3 has a slot 9, 1t respectively in its skirt 6, 7 respectively in which apertures run between the bases 4, 5 parallel to the axis of the cylinder to the outer edge of the skirt 6, 7. Thus, when the top and the bottom are fitted together they may be rotated relative to one another so that these two slots 9, 10 register thus providing an aperture between each end of the cylinder, which aperture is parallel to the axis of the cylinder as can best be seen in FIGURE 1. Through this aperture any tape carried on a spool or the like within the container may be withdrawn and the container may be used as a dispenser.

In order to assist this use adjacent each slot 9, 10 is portion of a nozzle 11, 12 which nozzle comprises a substantially tangential extension of the skirts of the top and bottom. The forward portion of this nozzle is spaced from the adjacent skirt and may be connected thereto by a strengthening member 13, 14 which is so formed as to leave a relatively sharp edge 15 at the and the slots 9, 10 are brought into registration the two nozzle portions 11, 12 are also brought into registration as illustrated in FIGURE 1. This forward edge 15 of the nozzle is preferably provided with serrations so that it can be used as a cutter to cut off lengths of tape or the like as they are withdrawn through the aperture.

Provided in both the' top and the bottom and being inwardly directed therefrom are members17, 18 respectively.

The member 17 which is attachedto the inner surface of the skirt 6 is attached to the skirt adjacent the base 4 and the main portion of the member extends downwardly spaced from the skirt 6. The member may be formed integral with the skirt 6 or may be attached thereto by an adhesive or in any other manner. The

, member 18 is integral with skirt 7 and extends upwardly therefrom.

When the top and bottom are assembled the downwardly extending portion of the member 17 lies adjacent the inner face of the skirt 7. At the same time the member 16 extends adjacent the inner surface of the skirt 6.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the bottom of the container when the container would be in its dispensing condition;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 showing the container in its closed condition;

FIGURE 7 is a section along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

The dispenser 1 comprises two similar cylindrical portions defined as the top 2 and bottom 3 of the dispenser respectively, although this is not to be taken as defining any fixed orientation, each of which may be moulded from a synthetic plastic material or formed from sheet metal or any other desired material. The top 2 and bottom 3 comprises a circular base 4, 5 respectively having an annular peripheral skirt 6, '7 respectively being directed outwardly from the base 4, 5. The diameter of the annular skirt 7 of the bottom 3 is at its outer part 8 The positioning of the members 17 and 18 are such that on the two halves of the dispenser being rotated the member 18 contacts the member 17 adjacent its point' of connection to the skirt 6 when the slots 9, 16 are in register. When the top and bottom are rotated through approximately 180 the members 17 and 18 correspond with the slots and 9 respectively, thus isolating the inrated ctuting edge to enable breaking of the tape at the required posit-ion. Further, the dispenser may be of such a size that it may be used as a wrapping dispenser, that is, a dispenser through which relatively long lengths of tape are passed around an article without the tape being broken into short lengths. The tape may be left in its available position, or should it not be required for some time the top and bottom of the dispenser may be separated, the free end of the tape positioned within the dispenser and the top and bottom refitted to again prevent access of moisture into the dispenser.

It is of course to be understood that the dispenser of the present invention may also be applicable as one end of a bulk tape container. That is, a container adapted to carry three or four spools of tape may be provided on its lid member and the upper end of its body with the necessary slots, nozzle portions and inwardly directed portions to enable the bulk container to also be used as a dispenser if required.

As illustrated an annular tape guide 19 is provided in the bottom of the dispenser, which guide has an external diameter slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the spool on which the tape is wound so as to control rotation of the spool of tape when tape is being removed from the dispenser.

I claim:

1. A container adapted for dispensing tape material therefrom, said container comprising a cylindrical top portion and a cylindrical bottom portion each of which includes a base and a depending skirt, the skirt of each said portion having an edge remote from the base thereof, one of said skirts including a section of reduced diameter extending from the edge thereof towards the associated base to enable the skirts of the sections to be axially interfitted for relative rotation and define a smooth external cylindrical surface, each skirt having an axial slot extending from the edge thereof towards the associated base and adapted for being placed in registry with the other slot whereby tape material may be dispensed from the container through the slots, and means on each skirt extending beyond the edges of the same skirt and positioned on said skirt to seal the slot in the other of the skirts in a particular relative position of the portions in which the slots are out of registry.

2. A container adapted for dispensing tape material therefrom, said container comprising a cylindrical top portion and a cylindrical bottom portion each of which includes a base and a depending skirt, the skirt of each said portion having an edge remote from the base thereof, one of said skirts including a section of reduced diameter extending from the edge thereof towards the associated base to enable the skirts of the sections to be axially interfitted for relative rotation and define a smooth external cylindrical surface, each skirt having an axial slot extending from the edge thereof towards the associated base and adapted for being placed in registry with the other slot whereby tape material may be dispensed from the container through the slots, an axially extending member on the top portion located within the skirt and spaced therefrom by the thickness of the skirt of the bottom portion and an axially extending member on the edge of the skirt of the bottom portion, said members being located on the respective portions at diametrically opposed positions with respect to the associated slots for blocking the same and closing communication with the interior i of the container with the top and bottom portions in a relative angular position in which the slots are about apart.

3. A container adapted for dispensing tape material therefrom, said container comprising a cylindrical top portion and a cylindrical bottom portion each of which includes a base and a depending skirt, the skirt of each said portion having an edge remote from the base thereof, one of said skirts including a section of reduced diameter extending from the edge thereof towards the associated base to enable the skirts of the sections to be axially interfitted for relative rotation and define a smooth external cylindrical surface, each skirt having an axial slot extending from the edge thereof towards the associated base and adapted for being placed in registry with the other slot whereby tape material may be dispensed from the container through the slots, means on each skirt extending beyond the edges of the same skirt and positioned on said skirt to seal the .slot in the other of the skirts in a particular relative position of the portions in which the slots are out of registry, and dispensing nozzles on said skirts extending outwardly thereof and being positioned with respect to the slots therein for being placed in alignment with one another with the slots placed in registry, said nozzles having sharp terminal edges adapted for severing tape material dispensed from the slots.

4. A container adapted for dispensing tape material therefrom, said container comprising a cylindrical top portion and a cylindrical bottom portion each of which includes a base and a depending skirt, the skirt of each said portion having an edge remote from the base thereof, one of said skirts including a section of reduced diameter extending from the edge thereof towards the associated base to enable the skirts of the sections to be axially interfitted for relative rotation and define a smooth external cylindrical surface, each skirt having an axial slot extending from the edge thereof towards the associated base and adapted for being placed in registry with the other slot whereby tape material may be dispensed from the container through the slots, an axially extending member on the top portion located within the skirt and spaced therefrom by the thickness of the skirt of the bottom portion and an axially extending member on the edge of the skirt of the bottom portion, said members being located on the respective portions at diametrically opposed positions with respect to the associated slots for blocking the same and closing communication with the interior of the container with the top and bottom portions in a relative angular position in which the slots are about 180 apart, and dispensing nozzles on said skirts extending outwardly thereof and being positioned with respect to the slots therein for being placed in alignment with one another with the slots placed in registry, said nozzles having sharp terminal edges adapted for severing tape material dispensed from the slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 885,048 4/08 Hoffmann-Pinther 22544 2,681,186 6/54 SlaWik 22544 2,710,152 6/55 Jones 225-44 X 2,879,931 3/59 Simons 2254 4 X ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner.

DONALD L. MAXSON, Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER ADAPTED FOR DISPENSINT TAPE MATERIAL THEREFROM, SAID CONTAINER COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL TOP PORTION AND A CYLINDRICAL BOTTOM PORTION EACH OF WHICH INCLUDES A BASE AND A DEPENDING SKIRT, THE SKIRT OF EACH SAID PORTION HAVING AN EDGE REMOTE FROM THE BASE THEREOF, ONE OF SAID SKIRTS INCLUDING A SECTION OF REDUCED DIAMETER EXTENDING FROM THE EDGE THEREOF TOWARDS THE ASSOCIATED BASE TO ENABLE THE SKIRTS OF THE SECTIONS TO BE AXIALLY INTERFITTED FOR RELATIVE ROTATION AND DEFINE A SMOOTH EXTERNAL CYLINDRICAL SURFACE, EACH SKIRT HAVING AN AXIAL SLOT EXTENDING FROM THE EDGE THEREOF TOWARDS THE ASSOCIATED BASE AND ADAPTED FOR BEING PLACED IN REGISTRY WITH THE OTHER SLOT WHEREBY TAPE MATERIAL MAY BE DISPENSED FROM THE CONTAINER THROUGH THE SLOTS, AND MEANS ON EACH SKIRT EXTENDING BEYOND THE EDGES OF THE SAME SKIRT AND POSITIONED ON SAID SKIRT TO SEAL THE SLOT IN THE OTHER OF THE SKIRTS IN A PARTICULAR RELATIVE POSITION OF THE PORTIONS IN WHICH THE SLOTS ARE OUT OF REGISTRY. 